Well bailer



Jan- 6, 1953 w. B. HARRELL ET Al..

WELL BAILER Filed March 13, 1948 INVENTOR` Air-Tamm |\\\\\\\\\\\\\.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\x Illll 2. .a W w. 9

@a y w Patented Jan. 6, 1953 WELL BAILER Warren B. Harrell, Long Beach, and Alvin H. Trester, Huntington Beach, Calif., assignors to Harrell Sales Co., Huntington Beach, Calif., a 5o-partnership composed of Warren B. Harrell and Doris D. Trester Application March 13, 1948, Serial No. 14,688

3 Claims.

This invention has to do with improvements in oil well bailers, particularly of the type by which l displacement of sand'into the barrel of thebailer v results from movement of a vertically reciprocable plunger in the barrel.

The most common type of positive displacement bailer is that employing a piston having direct contact with the barrel wall and having capacity for fluid displacement across the full area of the barrel. During the piston down stroke, uid ordinarily is displaced from the barrel upwardly through the piston or tubular rod thereof. This true piston type of bailer has certain objectionable characteristics, among which the barrel wall frequently causing binding as a result of a sanded condition; also the tendency for restricted iiuid escape passages to become sand clogged; and inadaptablity of the tool to flushing out of the full chamber length of the barrel above as well as below the piston.

One of our major objects is to provide an imn proved bailer characterized by its capacity for effective uid displacement that will cause the sand charge'to enter the barrel, butV without `maintaining 4the working parts or escape pasopenings communicating directly with the inter L barrel-plunger space through the barrel itself, as distinguished from through the plunger, thus permitting less restriction of the fluid escapeV course and resultant freedom from sand clogging. This same arrangement `permits more effective ushing out of the barrel in that air or liquid may be introduced into the upper part of the barrel chamber to flow about the full length of the plunger to the bottom of the barrel,

The invention further contemplates improved i valve means for maintaining the charged barrel under substantial super atmospheric pressure as an aid in discharging its contents. As will appear, the barrel outlet through which fluid is displaced during the plunger down stroke is resisted i i.

2 by a spring urged valve, the latter preferably having floating or self-seating characteristics assuring the maintenance of an eiective fluid tight closure.

The invention has various additional features and objects all of which will be understood to best advantage from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment shown by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a general view showing the barrel assembly in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section.l taken on line 2-2 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3---3A of Fig.

are frictional engagement of the piston head with l 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional enlargement of the bottom portion of the barrel.

The bailer comprises anelongated barrel IU having a threaded connection at II (Fig. 2) with a tubular head IZ, the top reduced end I3 of which is surface irregularized at I4 for engagement by a fishing tool should an occasion arise requiring recovery of the bailer by a shing operation. The bottom end of the barrel contains suitable valve or other means for retaining a sand charge taken into the barrel, such means being shown typically as a flap orcheck valve I5 pivoted at I6 and closing the 'barrel mouth I1 against material escape from the barrel. When the barrel is removed to the ground surface, its contents are discharged through a dump port I 8 normallyl closed by a rotatable sleeve I9 having an opening 2M registerable with the dump port I8.

Fluid displacement within the barrel chamber 2E is effected by a vertically reciprocable plunger 2 I, preferably of non-tubular formation, extending through the head bore 22 and suitablepacking 23 axially confined by sleeve nut 24 screwed intothe threaded head bore 25. The plunger 2l is vertically reciprocable from the ground surface as by a connection'at 26 with the rod or pipe string 2l. The plunger carries on its lower end an enlargement 28 adapted to be impacted upwarcliyvagainst the bottom end 29 of the head,

thus permitting the application to the barrel of an upwardly directed jarring blow, as for the purpose of dislodging the barrel from an impacted condition in the well sand. It is particularly observed that the plunger has free and open clearance within the chamber 29 from the wall ofthe barrel IG, as well as from the lhead. I2 throughout the extent of counterbore 30 which opens into thev barrel chamber.

Fluid displaced from thev barrel during the barrel ena'is restedfenthetottem ofthe Wen 2,624,414 3 4 down stroke of the plunger, escapes through bore It is contemplated that dumping of the bailer 30 and one or more lateral openings 32 which may be facilitated by charging the barrel with a normally are closed by valves 33. As a feature fluid at a pressure greater than that normally of particular importance, the valves are renmaintained by the valves 33. Accordingly durdered freely displaceable to maintain full seat- 5 ing the dumping Operation at the ground SurfaCe, ing'rgand` sealing conformance with theoutlets 32v the Valves may be heldseatednagainst whatever while being constantly spring-urged --to seatingv 'f pressure that may -be` builtZ-upfin-the barrel by positions.,l Preferamy the valves 33 have segintroduction of uid through the connection 42. mental spherical seat engaging surfaces, and are@ AS illustrative, in Fig. 3, the valves 33 are shown held against their circular seats by leat springs. iloreto be held seated by suitable means such as a 3l contained and secured Within the head re-"A Clamp 45, one end 0f Which Carries a pin 46 eX- cesses 35 by screws 36,-the.springsfbearingi against; attending through an opening in the Stop band 31 but being unattachedtoitheyalves-so that the' .ol engage and bear against the Spring 34, the latter are cornorrnalole=totl'ieirf-seatsrfOutwardY #Opposite arrnfof the Clamp Carrying SCreW 47 displacement of the springs'34'to'anl extent per;I Whioh'Si'Inilarly engages and may be tightened mitting loss of the valves is prevented by a stop"` 'aga-inst "thepppoSite Valve Springband 3'!y encircling the 1head aboutfreesses 33 -';Lc1a1m: opposite the va1ve5 1. A well bailer comprising a vertically extend- In considering theoperation of the tool, assume `ine-barrel to loe lowered into a Well and having the bailer assembiyito be lowered in a well, with 20 e bottom inlet, a Check valve permitting upward 1- l45h@ilmrrelesupportedvby .the-plunger end @n.51 iiow .through said inlet butpreventingi-reverse "gagemen't With-thehead shoulder 25k-Aitor the viud flowldownvvardly theiethrouehra' plunger .4 extending downwardly` :through lan opening in an, as shown in Fig. 1, the plungewzl. may been; sadnupper end of theabarrel, and vertically reverticallyreciprocated' kto -causehalternate dis- 25 oinroeable in Said opening and into andpout 0f "Placementof the usual well liquid andsand 4l an; :the barrelzto-vary the effectivevolume-thereof,

upwardly into tithebarrel past theeheckvalve Y fsurfacesfof ,Sa-idpmngereXtend-ine into said 45; and1 f luidfdisplacement out of -thebarrel '-:barrel being imperforate :toprelent-Dassage 0f throughtne valve-control openings k32.v That is' fluidrthrough said-plunger;means forming/a Seal to say'gfcluringfthe-up` stroke-:ofthe plunger the 4so*preventing;f. YSubstantial iluid floW through Said Well` uid enters the barrel,carrying with it ai barrel opening about the plunger, said fbarrel sandfor other solid--materiahwhich becomes re-..v having .anoutlet at,alooationeliaoedabolie Said tained in the barrel by the seatingofevalve l5 inlet n.and spaced from Said :upper DlungerepaSS- 'after the insurge.- During downwardemovement ing. opening, Said plunger being Spacedasubstanofthe plunger a volume of fluid correspondingV 35 tial distance from the inner wallof thebarrel so to the plunger volume progressivelyentering the. .4 that on ,itsfdownstroke` fluid is ,displaced upchambenisforced outthroug-h openings 32 against k,vi/'ardiy 'in thev ,barrel about theH plunger and theresistanceofithespringe-seatedf'valves. Ordithrough saidroutlet, and oheokvalvemeans per- Vnarily'thesandvcharge Ytaken into thebarrel will,A i; mitting fluid flow from 'the barrel through Said Vtogether with valvey i5, seal Jthe-barre1= against 40. outlet but preventingl'everse iuid flow into the Y uid escape to `a degree s uch that-the charge may barrel through Said outlet.l

remain undergsubstantial pressure-inthe-barrel. 2. A well bailerv comprising a verticallyv extend- Accordingly, `thethrust,ozfl'spring 34` preferably;A ing barrelto be lowered into a Welland having -is Vsuiiciently -great thatY uponremovalaof the L a bottom inlet, a CheCk'ValVe permitting'uDWard Y 'bailertoftheground surface, asubstantialatmos '45 floWy through Said" inlet but preventing 'reverse pheric pressure, say in the neighborhood-of 40"' fluid now lvdovvnvvardlytherethrough,"a-l solid --pounds-perrsquare inch, willexisti'in'lthe barrelf' plunger eXtendingdoWnWardly throughan Open- This pressure is-utilized-inracilitating ydumping 'ine inSaid-upperend of the'barrel andivertieally ,oftthebauerehargem. that ..up0n thefrotation# reciprocable `in said opening and into and out of-sleeve I9 bringing openings lI8 -and 20| into "513' 0f the barrel-to vary the -eiective'volumethereoi fq-"registration, the'internal barrel pressure will act': "i paoking. meane'preventing luid lOW through Said t .tou force-gout ytheohargg barrel opening about the plunger, saidbarrel hav- Further. Aprwisionris. madet0...faci1itate com 'w Vinganoutlet'in its l'side wall at a-locationr-spaced plete dumping of the charge andflushing out o above said inlet and beneath said packingmeans, Iofthe barrel, by providing in'thetupperportvi'on 55 said plunger being Vspaced a substantia'r distance gef the barrel, as et e suitabieioeetion inthe head: from the `inner wall Ofithe barrer-So thaton its i; manormauy closed-ttingazltnroughwhich airnewnkstrokeuidlisd'isplaeed Aupwardly*in the o1-.Water may. be introduced tocompletely'clganse -'ba rrelab1out/the Vplunger andfthrough saideoutlet, the-barrel. e and'check valvemeanspermitting fluid now from -By reason of -the open clearance-between ,the so thev 'barrel' through Saidoutlet lout-"preventing vplunger and the barrel wall, and also between",` ,reverser fluidV ow into the/barreltlrrougli said thegplunger and head th-roughout the/extent of' "foutlet counterbore '30, effective assu-rance is had against i' 3:* A'Wellbailelioomprising'a' vertically extendf fsandiclogging of the-barrel and'fluid escape pasig, "ing barrel ,tO'beJloWered into' a Well andhavine .Y -f sages to interfere with proper plunger travel and as a ,bottoml inlet, aj check valveperxnitting vupward e fluidfdisplacement tothe outlets. The clearances', flow through Saidinlet but rpreventing reverse laresuiciently great thatfany entering sand par-fj-. I fluid.. flow ,downwardly therethrough-,L L a Solid `iclesiaiparticularlyein the Apresence-of @surging-1. plungerextending downwardly'tl'lrougllenv Openliquid, will :settle or become carried out; beforeg. A.ingin Said upper enldofl the barrel andvertioally clogging `-quantities can zaccurrnilate. y The; samer? .reoiprooablein Said/opening vand into and out of clearances Vfacilitatecomplete `iiushing of the, lthe nloallelio. varytne ,effective volume thereof, barrel-during or` following the dumping-operatiom.. paokingglneans kprei/entitle fluid flow through Said in viewof the free ilovv.permittedfflucl=intrc -i,.,A -barrel opening about' the plunger, 'saidbarrel havduced through the., connection. 42.I` doyvnvvardlvl,E hinganoutlet vinits side Wall atalocation spaced pastthejulllength 0f..t11eplungerebelow. ma above said, inletand. .beneath lSaid paking means,

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Crowell Oct. 22, 1929 Fletcher May 15, 1934 Johnson Apr. 25, 1939 Parr Apr. 8, 1941 Rogers et al Oct. 12, 1943 Johnson Mar. 20, 1945 

